Play readings and workshops offer a chance to see exciting new work at various stages of development. Want to see the next big thing while it’s still being crafted? Get in on the ground level and see the creative process in action. Featuring new plays and musicals by local and national artists, here are the upcoming play readings and workshops in the DMV.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Body Language, a theatrical solo comedy show by Jenny Napolitano, premieres Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27 at The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD. Tickets are $30 and available here.
Washington Performing Arts and Dance Theatre of Harlem present Firebird, Friday, September 25 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, September 26 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $78-$162 and are available here.
MetroStage presents a reading of Cousin Bella by Sherman Yellen, Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St, Alexandria, VA. Tickets are $30 and available here.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center presents An Evening With Bernadette Peters, Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 PM at the Hylton Center’s Merchant Hall, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA. Tickets range from $50-$140 (half price for youth through grade 12) and are available here.
Pipeline Playwrights presents a video-on-demand streaming run of Around the Snake Turn by Patricia Connelly, September 17-October 1. Tickets are $22 general admission, $15 for students, and $30 for small groups of 2-5 people, and available here.
Creative Cauldron presents Helen Hayes-nominated Cabaret Artist-in-Residence Susan Derry in Ingenue You When, Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 PM and Friday, September 18 at 7:30 PM at 127 East Broad St, Falls Church, VA. In-person individual tickets range from $25-$30, with table seating for 4 (including one glass of wine per person) for $180. A live stream is also available for $15. Purchase tickets here.
Peregrine Theatre Company presents i’m gonna go viral even if it kills me, a clown karaoke show written and performed by Julia Finke, Saturday, September 12 at 6:30 PM at Big Bear Cafe, 1700 1st St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets are $15 and available here.
George Mason School of Theater presents The Originals Fall 2026, an evening of new works written by and featuring George Mason students, Friday, September 11 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM at the Donald and Nancy deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheatreSpace, George Mason University, Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA. Tickets start at $15 and are available here.
Rapid Lemon Productions presents a staged reading of Reclassified by Petula Caesar, Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM at the Strand Theater, 5426 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD. A talkback will follow the reading. Tickets are $15 and available here.
Dominion Stage presents a staged reading of two one-act works, A Leave of Absence by Joni Fritz and Noir Hamlet by John Minigan, Sunday, September 6 at 2:00 PM at Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Lang St, Arlington, VA. Admission is free, no RSVP required.
IN Series Opera, in collaboration with multiple DMV-area arts organizations, presents Bernstein: MASS – This Shall Be Our Reply, Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 PM at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC. This event is a collective response to the defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts and the overhaul of the Kennedy Center. More information and tickets (free general admission, donations encouraged; reserved seating for $50) are available here.
Reston Community Players presents a reading of Tom Stoppard‘s Leopoldstadt, Thursday, September 3 at 7:30 PM at RCP’s rehearsal hall, 264 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA. This is the latest in RCP’s Scripts and Sips series – scripts and sips will be provided, but feel free to bring your own “sips.” Sign up as a reader or audience member here.
I Regret Nothing, a brand-new one-woman show starring Soupergirl founder Sara Polon, comes to DC for 3 performances Tuesday, September 1, Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3, all at 7:30 PM at the National Union Building, 918 F St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets are $25 + fees and available here.
Olney Theatre Center presents the 2026 Olney Outdoors season, running for 5 weeks from August 13-September 12 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD. The full performance lineup and individual event tickets (ranging from $15-$65) are available here.
